City of Cullman offers scouts lesson on local government, names new fire chief

Jun. 5—Boy Scout Troop 219 of Cullman received a lesson on civic engagement and the process of local government from the Cullman City Council Monday, June 3.

Scoutmaster Jonathan Haynes said attending the city council meeting was one requirement for scouts looking to earn their Citizenship in the Community merit badge. He said the troop were looking to observe how community leaders resolved difficult issues and differences of opinion to address the needs of the community.

Mayor Woody Jacobs explained to the scouts how some decisions made by the council were made with the overall well-being of the community in mind, but could still receive criticism from several residents who may be immediately affected by the decision.

He used the city's approval to apply for a 2025 TAP grant to construct handicap accessible sidewalks along 3rd Avenue from its intersection of 4th Street to 5th Street and then west along 5th street to its intersection of 4th Avenue as an example of taking multiple factors into consideration when making a decision.

"Any time you do street or sidewalk improvements in the city of Cullman, most everybody is for it unless you live there or have a business there. We've proven that when we did some work around [city hall]. They're all excited until we have the roads torn up and people can't get in or out. What the council has to do in these situations is they look at the project and the benefits, then they look at the negatives and how they're gonna get criticized and they have to weigh that out," Jacobs said. "That's the ups and the downs of this decision."

The city also officially named Darren Peeples as Cullman Fire Rescue Chief and Stentsen Ellenburg as assistant chief.

Peeples previously served as the department's assistant fire chief under Brian Bradberry until February when Bradberry was named Cullman's Public Safety Director.

Peeples has been serving as interim Fire Chief since Bradberry's transfer.

In other business the council:

— Approved a special event request from Michael McBrayer for the Rock the South music festival at York Farms beginning on Thursday, July 18 until Saturday, July 20.

— Approved a special event request from Shirley Arnett for the annual prayer walk on the sidewalks of the Cullman County Courthouse Thursday, June 6.

— Approved a special event request from Bree Goodwin of Desperation Church for a community event in Depot Park Wednesday, June 19.

— Set a public hearing for 7 p.m. July 15, to amend the sidewalk regulations in the city's zoning ordinance.

— Annexed property located at 2100 Main Avenue SW into the city limits as B-2 business district.

— Awarded a bid for light poles at Depot Park to West Cullman Electric Supply in the amount of $25,250.

— Adopted an updated policies and procedures manual for utility services.

— Awarded the bid for pipe and materials needed for drainage improvements at Depot Park to ADCO Pipe and Supply in the amount of $31,112.75.

— Awarded the bid for a stormwater pipe at Depot Park to Bear Concrete Products, Inc. in the amount of $11,869.94.